Sweet cherry tree named ‘IFG Cher-ten’

Abstract

This invention is a new and distinct sweet cherry variety denominated IFG Cher-ten. The new sweet cherry tree is characterized by producing large size, dark red fruits having reniform shape. Fruits ripen early, are firm with medium acidity and have a good cherry flavor. Fruit stems are long, medium thick, have strong attachment and stay green during storage and shipping. IFG Cher-ten is self-incompatible having S1S3 pollen alleles. The tree has a medium-low chilling requirement of about 400 to 500 hours. It produces very few doubled and spurred fruits in high summer temperature regions.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of sweet cherry tree as herein illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(1) The accompanying photographic drawing illustrates in full color IFG Cher-ten, taken from a 10-year old tree. The photograph was taken outdoors with indirect lighting. The colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type.

(2) An actively growing shoot tip can be seen in the upper portion of the drawing.

(3) Typical mature fruit, fruit in cross section and cleaned and dried fruit pits are displayed in the lower half of the drawing.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(4) Throughout this specification, color names beginning with a small letter signify that the name of that color, as used in common speech, is aptly descriptive. Color names beginning with a capital letter designate values based upon R.H.S. Colour Chart, published in 2015 by The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England.

(5) Throughout this specification subjective description values conform to those set forth by the International Board for Plant Genetic Resources (IBPGR) Cherry Descriptor List (Prunus spp.) (1985) which was developed with full support from the Commission of the European Communities (CEC) Programme Committee for Plant Disease Resistance Breeding and the Use of Genebanks.

(6) The descriptive matter which follows pertains to IFG Cher-ten plants grown in the vicinity of Delano, Kern County, Calif. during 2016 and 2017, and is believed to apply to plants of the variety grown under similar conditions of soil and climate elsewhere: Tree: General.Age 10 yrs. old. Height About 2.6 M when pruned. Width About 3.2 M when pruned. Vigor Vigorous. Density of foliage Dense. Form Spreading. Root stock Prunus mahaleb. Resistance/susceptibility to typical pests and diseases of Prunus avium species not observed to date. Chilling requirements Medium low, slightly lower than Brooks. Graft compatibility Good: produces compatible graft unions with Prunus avium, Mazzard seedling (non-patented), and Prunus mahaleb seedlings (non-patented). Trunk.Trunk diameter of 10-year old trees, 30 cm above the soil line About 22.0 cm. Lenticel size Medium. Lenticel dimensions Length: About 1.9 cm. Width: About 0.4 cm. Lenticel shape Elliptical shape oriented horizontally. Lenticel color Grey: 201A. Trunk surface texture Moderately rough. Outer bark color The following colors were observed: Grey: 201A and 201B. Branches: 1-year old wood.Vertical top growth length Long: About 70.9 cm. Horizontal Growth Length Medium: About 42.1 cm. Diameter Vertical growth: About 0.8 cm. Horizontal growth: About 0.8 cm. Internode length About 4.3 cm. Number of lenticels Few: About 3 lenticels per linear cm. Lenticel size Small. Lenticel dimensions Length: About 0.1 cm. Width: About 0.1 cm. Lenticel shape Round. Bark color The following colors were observed: Greyed-orange: 175A and 175B. 2-year old wood.Length About 29.1 cm. Diameter About 1.1 cm. Internode length About 3.8 cm. Number of lenticels Few: About 3 to 4. Lenticel dimensions Length: About 0.3 cm. Width: About 0.1 cm. Lenticel shape Elliptical shape oriented horizontally. Bark color The following colors were observed: Grey: 201B and Greyed-orange: 166B and 177B. Buds: Vegetative buds.Shape Elongated. Vegetative bud dimensions Length: About 1.8 cm. Width: About 0.4 cm. Bud burst Feb. 9, 2017. Flower buds.Flower bud dimensions Length: About 1.4 cm. Width: About 0.5 cm. Shape Oval. Placement At bud positions mostly 1 to 6 on first year wood. Average number of flower buds on first year wood: 4. Number of flower buds per spur on second year wood 2 to 4. Average 3. Color The following colors were observed: Greyed-orange: 175A and 175B. Leaves: Mature leaves.Leaf dimensions Length: About 15.2 cm. Width: About 6.7 cm. Leaf shape Ovate: symmetric on both sides of central axis. Shape of tip Acuminate: narrowly. Shape of base Rounded. Margin Serrated: regular: pointed. Leaf profile Involute. Venation Arcuate. Vein color The following colors were observed: Yellow-green: N144C and 145A. Upper surface.Upper surface pubescence None. Upper leaf surface color Yellow-green: 147A. Surface texture Smooth. Lower surface.Lower surface pubescence Sparse: only on veins. Lower leaf surface color Yellow-green: 147B. Petiole.Petiole dimensions Length: About 2.9 cm. Width: About 0.2 cm. Upper surface of petiole color The following colors were observed: Grey-purple: 187B and Green: 144A. Lower surface of petiole color The following colors were observed: Yellow-green: N144C and 145A. Petiole groove Wide. Petiole pubescence Very sparse: only on lower surface. Glands.Number of glands 1 to 2. Gland dimensions Length: About 0.25 cm. Width: About 0.2 cm. Gland shape Mixture of globose and reniform. Gland location On petiole. Gland color Greyed-purple: 183C. Leaf stipule Present. Flowers: Blooming period.Early Season. Blooming dates.First Bloom: Feb. 17, 2017. Full Bloom: Mar. 5, 2017. Number of flowers per cluster.2 to 3. Average About 2.7. Corolla.Composed of unfused petals, somewhat overlapping. Corolla diameter.About 2.8 cm. Petal number.5. Petal length.About 1.7 cm. Petal width.About 1.6 cm. Margin waviness.Weak. Division of upper margin.Notched. Color of petal upper surface.White: N155A. Color of petal lower surface.White: N155A. Peduncle.Length: About 2.3 cm. Width: About 0.17 cm. Peduncle color.Yellow-green: 144B. Number of sepals.5. Sepal length.About 0.7 cm. Sepal width.About 0.4 cm. Sepal shape.Narrow elliptic. Sepal color.Upper surface: Yellow-green: 146C. Lower surface: Greyed-orange: 176A. Filament.Length: 0.6 to 1.5 cm. Width: About 0.1 cm. Filament color.White: NN155C. Anther color.The following colors were observed: Greyed-orange: N163D and 163B. Pollen color.The following colors were observed: Greyed-orange: 163A and 163B. Pollen production.Average. Self-compatibility of flowers.Self-incompatible. Flower compatibility group.S1S3. Fruit: General.Ripening period Early to mid-season: Approximately: May 1, 2017. Use Fresh market. Keeping quality Good. % Titratable acidity About 0.93%. Refractometer test Soluble solids: Brix: About 19.6. Firmtech II (g/mm) About 359. Flavor Excellent aromatic with good sugar/acid balance. Juice color Greyed-purple: 183A. Juice amount Juicy. Eating quality Excellent flavor and texture. Stem.Stem Length: About 5.3 cm. Width: About 0.2 cm. Stem color Yellow-green: 144A. Stem cavity Medium. Stem retention during storage Excellent. Stem storage quality Moderate to good. Berry.Uniformity of size Uniform. Shape Reniform with somewhat pointed stylar end. Fruit Weight About 11.1 gm. Apical Diameter About 2.7 cm. Diameter transversely across suture About 2.3 cm. Diameter at right angle to suture plane About 2.9 cm. Suture None. Percent of excessively deep or split sutures About 0%. Doubles About 0%. Skin.Thickness Thick. Texture Mostly smooth with very little indentation noted at lenticels. Skin color The following colors were observed: Greyed-purple: 187A. Tendency to crack Not susceptible. Flesh.Texture Firm. Color Greyed-purple: 184A. Stone cavity color Greyed-purple: N186C. Stone.Shape Oblong. Length About 1.1 cm. Width across suture About 1.0 cm. Width at right angle to suture plane About 0.7 cm. Type Semi-free. Surface texture Slightly rough. Stone Color when dry Orange-white: 159A. Tendency to split None. Base Flat. Apex Rounded. Ventral edge Narrow suture subtended by 2 somewhat prominent ridges converging at base and apex. Dorsal edge Somewhat prominent ridge extending from base to apex, slight wing near base.